Navigating apparatus.



A E. LARRABEE.

NAVIGATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 3.1911.

Patented June 18, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

INVENTOR Larrabee AZZQFLZE. Q We, 5W

s s E N W W A. E. LARRABEE.

NAVIGATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 3.19m.

1,270, 1'76. Patented June 18, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR I AZerZflEL 0/7 Tafiee,

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ATTORNEY WITNESS ALBERT E. LARRABEE, OF BRISTOL, PENNSYLVANIA.

NAVIGATING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J une 18, 1918.

Application filed July 3,1917. Serial No. 178,484.

cally governing the course of a ship over a prescribed route or body ofwater.

Another object of the invention is to provide a movable chart, adaptedto be positioned within the pilot house of a shlp, and having the coursethe ship should follow dcfined thereon, a movable pointer is adapted tofollow the course indications of the chart, and is controlled by themovements of the shi s helm, whereby when the pointer is operated toclosely follow the course line of the chart, the rudder of the ship willbe responsive to the movement of the pointer, so that the ship will besteered in accordance with the directions disclosed by the chart.

A further object is to provide novel means for moving the chart, saidmeans including an electrical motor which is isochronously operable inconjunction with the ships engine, in order that the chart will move indirect proportion to the speed of said engine.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in art pointed outhereinafter.

he invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combination of elements and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fullydescribed and pointed out with particularity in the appended claims.

In the drawin s Figure 1 is a rent elevation of the preferred form ofthe ship-steering mechanism comprising the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view, taken along the line 33 of Fig.1.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic top plan view illustrating the connectionsbetween the steering mechanism and the helm and rudder elements of aship.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation, and

Fi 6 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the e ectrical connectionsbetween the motor of the steering mechanism, and a ships engine shaft.

Similar characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughoutthe several views of the drawings. Referring more particularly to thedrawings, the ship-steering mechanism 1, comprising the presentinvention, preferably includes a suitable base 2, upon which is mountedan electrical motor 3. The armature shaft 4 of the. motor is providedwith a sprocket wheel, over which is trained an endless chain 5, thelatter also being trained over a similar sprocket wheel, mounted uponone end of a rotatable shaft 6. The latter is supported for rotationwithin fixed uprights or brackets 7, secured to the base 2, and it willbe seen that when the motor 3 is in operation, movement will be impartedto the shaft 6. Slidably keyed to the shaft 6 is a collar 8, having apinion 9 formed therewith, the latter being adapted to mesh with anenlarged gear 10 secured to a roll-bearing shaft 11, the latter alsobeing supported for rotation within the brackets 7, and is locatedimmediately'beneath the shaft 6. In order to throw the pinion 9 out ofmesh with the gear 10, the collar 8 is provided with an annular groove,into which projects a, stud carried by the shifting lever 12, the latterbein pivotally, secured to a bracket 13 carried I y the base 2. It willbe seen that by oscillating the lever 12, the pinion 9 will be moved toa position independent of the gear 10, in order to prevent thetransmission of movement from the motor 3 to the shaft 11, for a purposeto be presently disclosed.

The collar 8 is also provided with a stud 14, which-is adapted to engagewith a similar element 15,- carrield upon a sprocket wheel, the latterbeing loosely mounted upon the shaft 6, whereby when the collar 8 ismoved, by the manipulation of the lever 12, the stud 14 will be broughtinto engagement with the element 15, thus effecting the rotation of thesprocket carrying the element 15 in unison with the shaft 6, as will beclearly understood. A chain 16 is trained over the latter sprocket, andextends to a similar wheel fixed to a horizontally extending shaft 17,the latter being journaled within the brackets 7 and mounted above theshaft 6, as shown. The shaft 17 is provided with a socket extremity 18,which is adapted to receive the squared end of a chart-carrying roll 19.The other extremity of the roll 19 is mounted within aspring bearing 20,formed with a bracket 21. By this construc tion it will be seen that theroll 19 is removable from the mechanism 1, that 1s, by moving the chartlaterally toward the bearing 20, the other extremity thereof maybedisconnected from thesocket 18 of the shaft 17 and thus removed fromsaid mechanism.

From 'theforegoin'g'itwill be seen that the movement. of the motor 3 maybe im- I parted tothe roll 19by forcing the stud" 14 of the collar 8into engagement with the element 15, so as to connect the'shafts 6 and17 for synchronous rotation. The outer end of the shaft 11 is alsoprovided with a squared socket 22, into which is adapted, to'

be inserted the" reduced squared extremity of a second chart roll 23,which is similarin construction and in operation to the roll 19, and isremovable from the mechanism 1.

A chart 24 is secured to the r011 19, and is provided with a reducedapertured extremity 25, which is adapted to engage with a. hook element26 secured to the roll 23.

I It will be evident that when the pinion 9 is in engagement with thegearlO, the roll'23 will be in position to be rotated bythe motor m itthe. chart 24 to be unwound from the 3, thus causing the. chart 24 to beunwound from the roll 19, and wound about the roll 23. An irregul catingindicla 27 is impressed, printed or otherwise designated on the chart24, andmeans are provided by the present invention to control the rudderofa ship in accordance with the instructions or conditions denotedby'said line, as will be hereinafter fully set forth. The shaft 17carries a disk 28 against which is resiliently pressed a lever 29, thelatter being employed to perroll 19 in a regulated and taut manner.

The mechanism above described is used in connection with'the helm 30 ofa ship, the latter consisting of the usual Windlass 31, about which iswrapped a cable 32. The

. latter is connected in any suitable manner I i which is carried u-ponthe lower end of a wheel 40.

vertically j ournaled shaft 38, forming a part.

of-the-mechanism 1. The shaft 38 is supported for rotation withinv abracket 39 mounted upon the base 2, and the upper end thereof hassecured thereto a sprocket An endless chain-41 meshes with the wheel 42,carried by the brackets ar chart line or coursedndi- 40 and is alsotrained overand 21,.thus it will be evident that the movementof the helm30 will! be synchronously imparted to thechain 41 and to the rudder 34.Connected in any suitable manner to the chain 41 is a pointer block 43,which is.adapted to slide upon supporting .rods 44, extend- 'ing betweenthe brackets 7 and 21, whereby the movement of the chain 41' and theblock- 43 will be in unison. A pointer. hand 45 is formed with the block43 and extends to a position immediately adjacent to the roll 19,

u-ide sprockets so that it may closely followthe chart line\ 27indicated upon the movable chart 24', so

The block 43 is provided with a pivoted upper section 46, which may bethrown back so as to permit the roll 23 to be removed from the brackets7 and 21. A pencil or the like 47 is adjustably carried by theuppersection 46, and is adapted to be moved into engagement with thechart 24, when the latter is being initially made. a

In operation, the pilot of a ship manipulates the helm 3O so'that thehand '45 of the block 43 will be caused to follow the chart line 27. Itwill be seen that in doing this the rudder 34 will be maintainedinposltions accurately guiding the movement of the $1111), with which itis associated. The chartv 24 is initially made by lowering the pencil 47or the like so that the latter will bear upon a chart carried by therolls. Then during the manipulation of the helm 30, the movementsthereof will be imparted and recorded by the moving chart, so that afterthe chart has been once made by an experienced pilot, the ship may besteered thereafter by relatively inexperienced pilots. After the rollhas been unwound, the same may be quickly restored to itsinitia'l con-'diti'on by throwing the collar 8 so that the stud 14 thereof will engagewith the element 15, this results in imparting power to the roll 19 soas to rewind the chart 24 upon the roll 19. Due to the removable natureof the roll 19, different charts may be employed by the mechanism 1.

The motor 3 is preferably of an electrical type, although it should beunderstood that other means may be employed for efl'e'cting the rotationof the shaft 6. In this instance,

however, the motor 3 forms a part of an electrical circuit 48, includinga source of electrical energy 49 and a cut-out switch 50.

A rheostat 51 is provided in the circuit 48,

and is employed to control the-movement of current entering the motor3,so that. the speed of the latter maybe readily controlled. In order tocontrol the rheostat in an automatic manner, in connection with anengme-driven shaft 52, use is made of a governor 53, which is mountedupon the shaft 52. A sliding collar 54 forms a part of the governor andis loosely mounted upon the shaft 52. It will be seen that when the saidshaft is revolving at full speed, the governor will be extended so as todraw the collar 54 along the shaft 52, and this movement is imparted tothe rheostat handle 55, so that the said rhe'ostat will be operated topermit the motor 3.to receive a full supply of current. However, whenthe shaft 52 is revolving at a lower rate of speed, the governor willhave a tendency to contract, which will force the handle 55 to aposition diminishing the supply of current to the motor 3. Thus causingthe latter to revolve at a somewhat reduced rate of speed. And when theshaft 52 is idle, the rheostat will be operated to cut off the supply ofcurrent to the motor. ,Thus it will be seen that the motor 3 willrevolve, in speed, in direct proportion to the speed of the shaft 52.

From the foregoing it will be seen that there is rovided mechanismwhereby the objects of the present invention have been achieved, andthat all of the advantageous features above mentioned are, among others,present. The mechanism is particularly advantageous when employed uponferry boats and like vessels, and is to be especially employed in foggyunfavorable Weather conditions, or when a ship is navigating by night.It will be noted that by having the motor 3 isochronously responsive tothe speed of the ships engine shaft, the movement of the chart will bein direct proportion to the speed the ship is traveling, therebyrendering the chart reliable and accurate at all times, and insuring asafe passage of the ship to an objective point or destination. By us1ngthe navigating mechanism 1, a ship may be piloted by relativelyinexperienced persons, with substantially the same skill and precisionas if controlled'by an exerienced pilot. The charts are removable romthe mechanism, so that charts defining other courses may be substitutedin place thereof. I y

In view of the foregoing, it is thought that the construction andoperation of the present invention will be clearly understood y thoseversed in the art, and therefore, a more extended explanation relativethereto has been accordingly omitted.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new and patentable is:e

1. In'ship navigatlng apparatus, the combination with a movablechart,-of driving means responsive to the speed of the ship s engine foreffecting the movement of said chart, an index element shiftable acrosssaid chart, and flexible connections extending from said element to arudder-controlling helm, whereby upon the movement of the latter saidelement will be synchronously actuated.

2. In ship navigating apparatus, the combination with a movable charthaving a course line defined thereon, of a follower laterally movablewith regard to said chart and adapted to be actuated to coincide withsaid line, and flexible connections extending from said follower to arudder-controlling helm, whereby the latter may be manipulated tovarious rudder-shiftin positions governed by the registering of saidfollower with said chart line.

3. In ship-steering mechanism, the combination with therudder-controlling mechanism of a ship, of a slidable and pivotallymounted index element movable in unison with said mechanism, and amovable chart having course indicia defined thereon, whereby themovement of said mechanism will be governed by the coinciding of saidindex element 'with the course indicia of said chart.

4. In ship-steering apparatus, the combination with the rudder-actuatinghelm of a ship, of a motor-driven chart having course indlcia definedthereon, a shiftable follower movable in unison with said helm, andmotion-imparting chain and ear connections extending between said folower and helm, whereby the rudder-controlling movement of the latterwill be governed by the registermg of said follower with the courseindicia of said chart.

5. In ship-steering mechanism of the class described, the combinationwith the rudderoperating helm of a ship, of a movable chart having acourse line disclosed thereon, a motor for effecting the movement ofsaid chart,

' means for varying the speed of said motor in direct proportion to thes eed of the ships engine, and a slidable an pivotally mounted indexelement operable to register with the course line of said chart upon theoperation of the helm, whereby the movement of the ships rudder may beregulated by the indications upon said chart. 6. In ship-steeringmechanism of the class described, the combination with therudderoperating helm of a ship, of a movable chart, rollers for thereception of said chart, driving means for transferrin said chart fromone of said rollers to anot er and dis osed to one side of said rollerssaid means eing responsive to the speed of the ships engine an indexelement movable over the face 0 said chart, and a rudder-operating helmadapted to have the movements thereof governed by the positions of saidelement with re ard to the chart. n testimony whereof I 'aiiix

